Speyside Whisky

Speyside whiskies are among Scotland’s lightest, sweetest single malts. Age often brings a bit more body and the profusion of heavily sherried whiskies from the region exhibit superb power. Though a comparatively small appellation, Speyside has, by some distance, the vast majority of Scotch whisky distilleries. Indeed there are eighty-four working distilleries, including the world’s best-sellers: The Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, Glen Grant and The Macallan.

The Speyside style has altered over time, a traditional Speyside single malt would be more akin to a Highland whisky, with a definite robustness and a marked peat. More recent expressions are lighter, sweeter whiskies; honeyed and fine. Lacking the peat of Islay or the Highlands, the ozone and salinity of coastal malts or the dry, perfume of the Lowlands; Speyside whiskies are sweet and subtle. There is however, no hard and fast rule as to the characteristics of Speyside whisky, for more than half of Scotland’s distilleries are to be found in this sub-region of the Highlands.

Older variants, particularly from those powerhouse distilleries: Macallan and Glenfarclas are often well-sherried, thick drams. There is a tendency to steer away from heavily finished whiskies, indeed most are matured in either ex-bourbon or ex-sherry casks. A heavily sherried Speyside single malt to be the perfect companion to a medium-bodied cigar, and a particularly well-aged expression can be the utmost of postprandial swigs.

Some of the light, youthful Speyside whiskies, perhaps from Allt-á-Bhainne or Glen Elgin, are charming and delightful. There is a low mineral content in the waters of Speyside, lying on the Grampians, with their granite content proffering soft waters. As a rule, the whiskies are either very low or totally devoid of peat, there is not a great abundance of it locally, though it has been used with some successful results in the cases of BenRiach and Tomintoul’s Ballantruan respectively.

The oldest expression from the 2014 release of Mortlach single malt Scotch whiskies is their 25 Year Old. Mortlach use whisky matured mostly in refill American oak casks, aged for a quarter of a... More info

A collectible bottling of Glenfiddich single malt Scotch whisky, presented in a 'Clans of the Highlands' presentation tin, which honours the Clan Macpherson. We believe this bottle was produced in the... More info

Independently bottled for the Mackillop's Choice range, this single cask Macallan was matured for 21 years. It was distilled in October 1992 and left to age in a Sherry cask until September 2014, when... More info

A Mackillop's Choice bottling of Longmorn single malt Scotch whisky, distilled in September 1988 and bottled in September 2014. This handsome indie bottling had an outturn of 263 bottles, presented at... More info

A vintage single cask offering of very well aged Tomintoul single malt Scotch whisky, distilled on the 30th of October 1981 and bottled on the 6th of October 2014. It was matured in a single Sherry... More info

The 2013 bottling of Tomintoul's stupendous 1976 vintage single malt Scotch whisky, distilled two years after the number of still at Tomintoul doubled, from two to four. The 2007 bottling of the 1976... More info

A rare 1980s Sestante bottling of 18 year old Mosstowie single malt, which was produced at the Miltonduff distillery using their Lomond Still. Miltonduff haven't produced Mosstowie whisky for a very... More info

2014 marks the first time the Singleton of Glendullan has been released as part of Diageo's Special Release. Exciting stuff, especially considering this is a 38 year old single malt, matured in... More info

Bottled as part of Diageo's 2014 Special Releases, this is a 1988 vintage Strathmill single malt Scotch whisky, matured in refill American oak casks for 25 years. 2,700 bottles were produced. This is... More info

An independent bottling of singe malt Scotch whisky from the Speyside distillery, bottled by WM Cadenhead. It was distilled in 1995 and matured in 1 Sherry butt and 1 hogshead for 18 years. It was... More info

A WM Cadenhead bottling of single malt Scotch whisky from the Linkwood distillery in the Speyside region. The whisky was distilled in 1987 and matured for 26 years before it was bottled for their... More info

Bottled by WM Cadenhead, this is a Small Batch release of 22 year old Glen Moray single malt Scotch whisky, distilled back in 1992. The bottle refers to the distillery using its rather traditional... More info

The Macallan 25 Year Old Anniversary Malt is a very rare bottling which shows off Macallan single malt in a well-matured, superbly Sherried fashion. This fantastic whisky comes in a handsome wooden... More info

An independently bottled Allt-à-Bhainne single malt, matured in a single cask for 18 years. It was distilled in June 1996 and left to age in a refill hogshead until August 2014, when it was bottled by... More info

A excellent chance to enjoy some excitingly well matured single malt from the renowned Glen Grant distillery in Speyside. It was distilled all the way back in 1951 and left to mature in a single first... More info

Single malt Scotch whisky from the Linkwood distillery, independently bottled by the chaps at Berry Brothers and Rudd. This 14 year old single malt was distilled back in 1999 and set aside to age in... More info

This is an Old Particular bottling from Douglas Laing of Longmorn single malt, distilled in June 1998 (a year which many remember to have been particular good for video game releases - "fun" fact!)... More info

22 year old Glenallachie single malt Scotch whisky, distilled in February 1992 and aged in a refill barrel. In August 2014, the good peoples at Douglas Laing decided it was ready to join the gorgeous... More info

An Octave bottling of Macduff single malt Scotch whisky, distilled in 1998 and bottled in 2014. The Octave range from Duncan Taylor features whiskies which have been finished in tiny Octave casks... More info

A Duncan Taylor bottling of Miltonduff single malt Scotch whisky, matured for 6 years. It's been presented as part of their Dimensions range, which shows off the many dimensions of the whiskies they... More info

A Dimensions bottling of single malt Scotch whisky from the Glenallachie distillery, which does not have many of their own bottlings, but does see a fair few independent releases. It was distilled in... More info

Independently bottled Aultmore single malt Scotch whisky, distilled in 2008 and bottled in 2014 by Duncan Taylor. Released as part of the Dimensions range, made to show off the multi-faceted... More info

Popular as a single malt and also used frequently in top blends, Dailuaine whisky is an all-round excellent Speysider. This is an A. D. Rattray bottling of their single malt, which was distilled in... More info

A single cask bottling of Strathmill single malt Scotch whisky, distilled in March 1992 and bottled in July 2014 for the Beinn a'Cheò range by the Scottish Liqueur Centre. Those unfamiliar with... More info

From Gordon & MacPhail's terrific Cask Strength range comes this 14 year old Tormore single malt Scotch whisky, matured in refill bourbon barrels. It was distilled in August 1999 (presumably while we... More info

Recently viewed

We use cookies to help provide you with the best possible online shopping experience. By using this site, you agree that we may store and access cookies on your device.Visit our privacy policy page for more information.

The prices currently being shown in USD are approximate, and should be used for illustrative purposes only. All prices are in GBP and all orders are charged in GBP. The order total – the amount you will actually be charged – will be displayed in GBP before you place your order. Click here to change your currency.